Still in Perth ;p

still here ;p lots of fun, nice sceneries, long drives, huge meals, laziness, attacks of spontaneity while shopping, haha... unfortunately, not able to upload fotos yet, most of them are on film... will post some when i have time (hmmmz - how much of that will i have?!?)

speaking of which, i haven't any time really to post now... kinda posted some thoughts here and here in sal's blog... so read them instead, hehe... ;p

sal, hon, missing u heaps!!!

fluffiness, dave

Strange...

for those who don't know, i'm in perth now!!! staying at my cousin's place at the moment, and discovered she has a blog, which is cool... been pretty good so far, after having adjusted to the jetlag, it's been interesting to observe and partake (minimally) in the workings of an ice-cream shop... ;p my cousin's shop... the varieties of things on offer is pretty huge, in fact so much so that some customers are put off and simply decide not to get anything because they are confronted by too wide a range to pick from!!! for those who were hoping, am sad to report that the loyalty card offer is no longer going, so no free ice-cream...

anywayz, of course, that's not all we've been up to... been to beachside, ate at some nice restaurants (and i shouldn't forget to mention the best value japanese take-away/cafe i've been to)... visited some of the fire-damaged areas too... some plains appeared reminiscent of a surface from another planet... it's sickening to think that the destruction of nature to such an extent might be the result of an arsonist somewhere... humans can be so difficult to understand sometimes...

read sal's blog before... having negative thoughts... very complicated... i suppose, things are rarely straightforward or able to be understood fully... i really don't know... something i'm growing to appreciate tho, is that emotional states and thoughts, although they often seem to correlate very well, they are in fact separate but intertwined aspects of a person's mind-state... thoughts are such that they can be expressed in many ways, to put a positive or negative emphasis on it, and virtually everything can be seen in both positive and negative lights... one's thoughts, therefore, may be very liable to strong emotional influence, and in turn this only serves to positively reinforce the emotional state (whether positive or negative), and subsequent thoughts will be more likely to be positive or negative in turn... thus a cascade of thoughts and emotions to one extreme is explained through cognitive theory... i guess one special case of this is when one's own thoughts are being analysed, and further being subject to doubt, this cascade could be especially dramatic...

i guess one way this can be offset is to realise the separateness and intertwined-ness of thought and emotion, such that emotion can be independently willed through brutal rationalisation and depersonalisation... it's something that helps me sometimes control my emotions, because i consciously separate them from the surrounding thoughts... in a sense, it's really no more than taking a step back from within myself, and praying to be shown the way things appear from the point-of-view that will tell us the truth - that is, God's point-of-view...

i don't propose to have answers to anything about emotion and thought... not even that what i've said has much bearing on truth (rather they are the result of observation and speculation)... but i jus thought i should share because i think that the most important thing when it comes to thoughts and truth-seeking is to desire the truth, and to desire God, rather than necessarily to respond to our emotions, because our hearts can be deceptive...

anywayz, on a positive ending, went to koorong today and got a study bible!!! very happy to finally have one, got the life-application niv study bible... jus a short extract from the end of Psalm 139 (verses 23-24):

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting"

The hunt is over...

logged on this morning to the Codex Maya chat only to find out the hunt's already finished... did some hunting last night ;p so much fun!!! but this morning, disappointed to find out we didn't win, haha... a team called "physical plant" found the hunt object at 6.35pm sunday (whatever timezone mit is)...

oh well, i guess that means i should start study again... ;p

to let those of u know what kinda puzzles they are - they're really difficult, with many logic steps involved... commonly, a combination of things like ciphers, anagrams, translation, odd-one-out, general knowledge, are required to solve each puzzle... there are over 100 puzzles for the whole hunt i think - and some of them are meta-puzzles, requiring the answers to a large set of other puzzles...

i only really worked on 2 of them, which were quite interesting... one of them involved a crossword puzzle with all words 7-letters long, without any numbers to mark where words would fit... and clues all yielded 8-letter answers!!! it turned out that all of them could have one letter dropped from them to still yield credible words, and that those letters dropped were "u", "d", "l", and "r"... naturally, this makes one think of "up", "down", "left", "right"... so began the painstaking task of fitting these into the only way they'd fit into the grid, in the direction indicated by the dropped letter, and it worked!!! ;p

the other one involved blogs... ;p funny that... there was a mysterious grid of letters, and i noticed early on that the words "xanga", "blog", "journal" and "diary" could all be found in it... but we ditched that after a while and set about trying some cryptography and summing the numbers in base 26 and translating back... things like that take time... we shouldn't have wasted it!!! turns out that the original track was correct... "blog" was part of "modblog", "journal" was part of "deadjournal" and "diary" was part of "diaryland", all other online blog sites... another blogsite that could be found was "blurty"... i hadn't heard of any of these except xanga!!! but when you look at the remaining letters, u get "usermhofive" -> logged into each of those blogsites in turn with username "mhofive", and fair enough, we're presented with a code!!! the code was rapidly unwrapped, and it sent us to yet another blog site... where the clue to the final answer was found... phew!!! ;p what a chase!!!

hehe... anywayz, i didn't get any sleep until 3.30am, this morning, thanx to the hunt... unfortunately there's no consolation prize, or else i think we were 2nd running or something... ;p oh well... it's fun anyhow, i encourage anyone to join next year's one, or do the melbourne uni one when it comes around later this year!!!

;p

ciao,
dave

Phew - hot and clammy!!!

wow, 37 degrees - i forgot what summer was all about until today... - hehe ;p in thin film of sweat and feeling like needing a shower ever few minutes... phew!!! ah well, shall put up with this, i jus hope my computer holds up... it's crashed twice so far today already (while attempting to start games of starcraft - reacquainting myself with zerg... - believing it's still the easiest race to play...) currently listening to a cool lil album, internationalist (powederfinger) - the best, still, 6 years on!!! - i think/hope my computer can handle playing cd and net... ;p

anywayz, last couple of days, been good to hear from friends who are overseas on elective!!! mary and shaz, miss u both so much!!! but good that we have the net to keep in touch... i think i'm one of few who are remaining grounded here in melbourne for elective, but i guess it's not all bad... ;p talking to jim on msn now too - all the way from scotland!!!

tennis on tv again ;p feeling like playing again... hmmmz - watched chinese 19-y.o. peng, who beat myskina!!! hmmmz, such good tennis, so few errors on her part... myskina was a bit out of sorts tho... i think peng's going to be someone to watch in the future!!! haha, she reminds me of holy ;p like twins?!? haha... hewitt too good in men's... i think this aussie open will be interesting in the women's side... but mens - i dunno if anyone can beat federer?!?

this is what summer's always been about for me haha... - jus hot dayz, beach, tennis... lazzzzzyyyyy... ;p

anywayz - change of topic - ;p interesting to see post on sally's blog about grumbliness attracting comments!!! reminds me of how the disaster/tragedy stories are the ones that seem to attract the most attention in the news... but also, how i probably become more likely to take a step back and think about things whenever i'm confronted with a negative mood or situation...

read somewhere interesting, a novel by deepak chopra called "soulmate" (which, interestingly is a very unlikely sort of story about love at first sight and stuff... - haha, something i can't say i identify with or agree with...), something about surrender being about taking a step back so we can appreciate the greater view... surrender to God is indeed a very interesting, but often misunderstood concept... that's what we must do... it's in a way very passive, giving oneself to the Spirit of God... but it doesn't mean it's easy... indeed, for me, it's often really difficult, coz i have to let go of all the things that seem so ingrained that are contrary to the Spirit... and letting go of these is an effortful process... i can't really say it any better than Paul put it in Galatians 5...

Galatians 5:16-25

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and selfcontrol. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

while in concept, it's not that difficult to understand, the practical aspect of doing such is plagued by our imperfections... hence we fall into a cycle of periods of surrender and relapse... but through repenting time and time again, and falling back on the hope and assurance that we've gained through our trust in Jesus, we will become transformed... i have to jus remember that it's not something i can do in my own strength... for the cycle will be exhausting and fruitless if i rely on myself... but God lives!!! and with Him, all things are possible!!!

Instruments of celebration ;p

did some random reading today... came across isaiah 38 - about hezekiah's illness, and how God, in His great compassion, miraculously healed hezekiah from the brink of death, and granted him another 15 years of life...

it's a wonderful thing that we have such a compassionate and loving God!!! who gives us, like hezekiah, chances to live and celebrate His goodness and His majesty... we are truly instruments of celebration, and while we are often so ready to attribute disasters and terrible things to His power, i can so often forget to celebrate the great gift of life that God gave me...

sometimes, a disaster, or some negative event, is what it takes to bring us closer to the Lord... jus as hezekiah saw, in hindsight, his life-threatening illness as a blessing that helped him to live the rest of his days for God (verse 17), our own difficulties are often used in our lives to similarly strengthen our relationship with God too... trials help us see things in perspective, and to be more grateful for the many blessings we receive... and all the more, we should never take things for granted!!!

hezekiah recounted his times and saw the Lord's loving hand in his life... and because his eyes were opened, he could not help but celebrate and praise God, and spread the news of the Lord's goodness...

verse 20 is cool too, especially for violinists like me, "The Lord will save me, and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the temple of the Lord" ;p

so yah, celebrate all the wonderful blessings we have, praise the Lord!!!

Isaiah 38:10-20

10 I said, "In the prime of my life
must I go through the gates of death
and be robbed of the rest of my years?"
11 I said, "I will not again see the LORD ,
the LORD , in the land of the living;
no longer will I look on mankind,
or be with those who now dwell in this world.
12 Like a shepherd's tent my house
has been pulled down and taken from me.
Like a weaver I have rolled up my life,
and he has cut me off from the loom;
day and night you made an end of me.
13 I waited patiently till dawn,
but like a lion he broke all my bones;
day and night you made an end of me.
14 I cried like a swift or thrush,
I moaned like a mourning dove.
My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens.
I am troubled; O Lord, come to my aid!"

15 But what can I say?
He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.
I will walk humbly all my years
because of this anguish of my soul.
16 Lord, by such things men live;
and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health
and let me live.
17 Surely it was for my benefit
that I suffered such anguish.
In your love you kept me
from the pit of destruction;
you have put all my sins
behind your back.
18 For the grave cannot praise you,
death cannot sing your praise;
those who go down to the pit
cannot hope for your faithfulness.
19 The living, the living-they praise you,
as I am doing today;
fathers tell their children
about your faithfulness.

20 The LORD will save me,
and we will sing with stringed instruments
all the days of our lives
in the temple of the LORD .

Bizarre dream...

haven't written in this blog for quite a few days... truth is, not much has been happening... it's amazing though, jus what tricks the mind can play, or fall victim to, during sleep... was visited by a strange dream last nite... i was surrounded by blackness, in some strange abstract plane with a sense of equilibrium, perhaps there was a surface beneath my feet... my point of view wasn't my own, but a vague sense i was viewing from a third-person perspective, several metres above and behind me, kinda like a computer game... (hard to make sense of it, but i couldn't clearly see myself... perhaps coz i was concentrating on the rest of the scene?!?) there weren't many ppl around, in fact i was probably only aware of the presence of my dad (whom i could see), who was fairly passive during the whole dream, and sally (whom i couldn't see, but simply sense), whose being seemed to be acting entirely in concert with me...

anywayz... strange setting vaguely established, there was a sudden flash of light in the corner of my vision, and a great feeling of trepidation overcame me... despite its being composed of light, my dream-being was certain that the intruder was a demon of some sort, disguised as an angel of light!!! it moved deftly, and silently, its light-spectre imposing and always threatening... each move was made to pull away from the demon, each step full of effort, as if our feet were pushing the ground away to the side, rather than propelling our bodies in any direction... but the effort seemed to be enough to keep the demon at bay... any letting-up, and it would draw nearer... then, my dad's being seemed suddenly powerless, and became increasingly vulnerable, being unable to keep from the closing clutches of the demon... panic!!! not knowing what to do, a simple will of the mind seemed to yank his body out of the demon's grasp... phew!!!

the key to victory lay in knowing that the light-being was a demon... and the name of Jesus Christ was invoked, and the demon shrieked and disappeared from the realm...

at that point, i woke, body covered in a thin film of sweat... i had to rebuke voices in my mind that taunted me, planting seeds of doubt and ill-feeling in my head... couldn't sleep for a while, but in time, God provided comfort for me, and i eventually decided to put on some clothes and grab the early hours of dawn for recuperation... woke again, not quite refreshed, and in a hypersensitive state (things that normally don't cause pain were unusually painful), but returned to normal within a while...

i wonder whether there was any meaning in the dream... i think there are some reminders that can come from some parts of it anywayz... the most worrying bit was the demon in disguise, possibly a reference to the numerous false prophets to come who claim to be the righteous one... or, perhaps, i need not look so far... is there something i'm (we're) not seeing?!? could it be something in my life that pretends to be good, but is actually rooted in evil?!? we are all sinners, after all... and our perceptions and judgment are also flawed... actually, it reminds me of a quotation (from where it came, i can't remember, but i have seen it in someone's signature on gushboard) - "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"... - and it pains me to think that there are probably so many out there who are really good-natured, well-intentioned people by the world's standards, who aren't saved... (and since the tsunami disaster, we have been made so much more acutely aware of how suddenly and unexpectedly the opportunities we've been given can be robbed from us...)

perhaps i am taking God's grace for granted... when i realise that i believe in Jesus Christ and have accepted His gift of life and salvation, and don't go out of my way enough to reach out to other people, i realise i'm being so selfish... yet, i pacify my conscience with excuses like, "i'm not well-informed enough", or "i don't know if this person's ready", or "i'll stuff things up"... i hope that God will work in me to overcome this reluctance...

Matthew 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Assorted stuff... ;p & some good news

hey all ;p hehe... perhaps i'll start off with the good news bit!!! - boyd & viktoriya are engaged!!! wow, such exciting news from a friend whom i'd kinda lost contact with for a few years... one of my good friends at high school, boyd's always been a natural comedian... hmmmz... i wonder how much of that's due to his half-malay, half-scottish pedigree... ;p anywayz - congrats boyd & vik!!!

anywayz - hehe... ;p today was good... first church for the yr, a nice lil sermon about Abram this morning (see passage below), and how he responded to God's calling - which seemed really crazy... pack ur stuff and go to this land i'll show you... - but he knew God and trusted Him with his life... and his faith has made him father of many nations... - God keeps His promises, and we are chosen among all the people on earth to respond to His calling, trusting Him in everything... ;p it's a scary proposition sometimes... but we are to know that God's plans for us are greater than our own ever could be!!!

thanks and praise to God for everything He has done!!! - and, hoping i can trust better in God for the future... so many times i've doubted, or simply not trusted in the God who loves me so much... shall have no more reason to doubt or not trust!!!


Genesis 12:1-9

The Call of Abram

1 The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.

2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you."

4 So Abram left, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there.

6 Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD , who had appeared to him.

8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD . 9 Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev.